Automatic train-pipe connecter



1927. June 21 .Ji ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIIE CONNECTER 2Sheets-Sheet` 1 Original Filed Apri;- 9. 1921 ATTORNEY *June` 21, 192.7.

1,633,226 J. ROBINSON AUTOMATIC TRAIN PIPE CONNECTER Sheets-Sheet 2Original Filed April 94. 1921 z5 :o la

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mvewro will @mi Yum/4m Patented June 21, 17927.

unirse STATES PATENT OFFICE.

` JOSEPH ROBINSON, F NEW YORK, vN. Y.

AUTOMATIC TRAIN-PIPE CONNECTER.

Application filed April 9, 1921, Serial No. 459,926. .Renewed November10,1926.

My invention relates to automa-tic train pipe connecters and has amongits objects to provide a simple and eliicient means for replacingdefective gaskets between the faces of mated connecter heads while thecars equipped therewith remain coupled. Another object is to providemeans to permit the connecter head and buffer spring to be removed fromthe bracket of the automatic connecter while the cars remain coupled andwithout disassembling the spring with respect to the head.

With t-hese and other objects inl view,

which will appear as the description pro-V ceeds, my invention residesin the combinations, arrangements and constructions hereinafterdescribed, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in theaccompanying' drawings in which: l

Figure 1 is a sidey elevation of an automatic connecter provided with myimprovement.

Figure 2 isa plan view thereof with'the coupling head B omitted, andshowing some of the parts in section.

Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of my improved connecter. In this viewthe coupling head B is omitted and the forward end of the pipeA, and theupper portion of the bracket D, are broken away.

Figure t is a rear view of the structure shown in Figure 1, with thecoupling head omitted and the upper part of the bracket broken away, and

Figure 5 is a rear view on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.' In this view thecoupling` head is omitted and the top of the bracket is broken away. f

Referring now to the drawings: My improvement comprises a pipe or body Asuit-l ably connected to any desired form of coupling head B. Ipreferably form the body with a laterally diverging` nipple' or conduit6 at its forward end, the nipple being threaded at 7 to receive the headand at 8 to receive the usual train pipe hose 9, Figure 2, as by aunionk 10. Extending rearwardly from, and preferably formed integralwith, the nipple 6 I provide the body A with a pair of horizontallyextending straps or members 11 and 12 spaced apart as shown. At theirrear end the straps are suitably attached to or terminate in avertically extending flange or projection 13 perforated at 14, andhaving an annular seat 15 for a spring-see Figure 3. Attached totheusual lug` 16 of the car coupler C, as by bolts 17, I provide abracket D the lower end of which terminates in a vertically extendingcylindrically shaped projection or anchor device 18 which projects fromabove into the opening 19 between the straps 11and 12, and in frontofthe flange 13, and normally rests thereat midway between the straps. jThe bracket D- is provided with a web or rib which projects to eitherside of the anchor device 18 'forming projections 20 and l2l whichoverhang the straps 11 and 12, as appears especially in Figure 5. Theprojections lie directly above the point about which the connecterfulcrums on the bracket D and preferably in the vertical plane of thefulcrum point-see Figure 1. These projections co-operate with the straps11 and 12 to prevent excessive rotation of the body A and the couplinghead B about the longitudinal axis of the body.

Formed on the projection 18, preferably midway the width of the straps11 and 12, I provide a curved or flaring` seat or` bearing 22 havingoverhanging portions 23 and k241, and extending from the rear of theflange 13, through the perforation 14 therein, I provide a t-ie rodvorpivot device 25 having at its forward end a perforated head 26, formedVwith a flaring or curved inner face adapted tovrestvand pivotallymovein the seat 22 between the overhanging portions 23 and 24. A sleeveor tubular member 27, having an annular seat 28, is slipped over the tierod 25 and passes through the perforation 14 in the flange 13, and vuponit the flange is adapted' to slide. At its forward end the sleeve isprovided with a plurality of aligned openings 29 and 30 adapted to alignwith an elongated opening or recess 31 formed in the tie rod 25. yBetween the annular seats 15 and 28 ofthe flange 13 and the sleeve 27respectively, and seated thereon, I provide a suitably formed bufferspring E, and upon the threaded rear end 32 ofthe tie rod I threadinglymount a nut 33, having an elongated hollow internally threaded shank 34lying within the enlarged cylindrically formed rear end of the sleeve27, as shown. The nut forms an adjustable abutment for tue sleeve andthe spring E, and is provided with wings 35 adapted to be struck with ahammer or similar instrument to adjust the nut along the tie rod 25 tovary the tact of the pin 39 with the lange i3.v

compression ot the spring or to entirely relieve such compression, asdesired. The spring serves to project the coupling head B and maintainit at the limit of its forward movement with the flange 13 normallyengaging the rear face 86 of the bracket D, and the rear tace ot' theanchor device 18, as shown particularly in Figure l. In this manner thecoupling head is yieldingly sustained in the normal coupling positionand is placed, with its gasket 37, under the ds' 'ed pressure whenmating connecters coupled up in service.

ln operation the wings 38 of the coupling head B serve to align theopposing heads and bring` their respective gaskets 37 into register.Further movement ot the coupling heads will compress the spring E,shitting the body il rearwardly along the slee-ve 27. and the tie rod 25and carrying the flange 13 away from the rear tace ot the bracket. Thismovement releases the universal Joint iormed vbetween the head 2G ot thetie rod and the projection or anchor device i8 of the bracket D,whereuponthe mated connecters may move universally with respect to theirbrackets, the universal joint mentioned oliering almost no resistance tosuch movement thereby insuring that the connecters will operate`practically as one continuous member with absolutely no relative motionbetween the faces of their mated heads B. Vifhen it is desired toremove. a detective gasket 37 from mated coupling reads without firstuncoupling the ca s, a pin, or other suitable device, such as anordinary spik-e nail, 39 is passed downwardly through the aligned holes29 and "3() nearest the flange l, the pin passing, oi' course, throughthe opening 3l, in the tie rod 25. rEhe nut, or abutment is then backedoii' by striking the wings 35 thereoil or applying a wrench thereto,until the retractive action orP the spring E is arrested by con- The nutis then backed oli the tie rod 25 a turther extent sul'hcient to permitthe tie rod t-o be shoved forward in the sleeve 27 until its perforatedhead 26 occupies the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3,whereupon the entire connecter may be .dropped from the bracket D, thedetective gasket replaced, and the connecter' reappli'ed by retracingthe operations described. rrhe construction comprehends means by whichthe spring E is anchored to the pipe on body A, and by which the tie rod25, the sleeve 27, and the nut 33 are retained in assembled relationduring the removal of the connecter from the bracket D and itsreplacement thereon.

n event the pin 39 becomes lost, and a suitable substitute therefore isnot available, the removal of a defective gasket is accomplished byrelieving the spring E, on the mated connecters, or' its compression bybacking the nut rearwardly on the threaded portion ot' the tie rod 25.ln this manner' the tie rod is relieved of tension and may be shiftedforward, as above described, and its head 26 disconnected from theprojection 18. The reverse ot this operation will re-assemble the parts,Y

t willL be noted, especially :rom Figure 5, that the sleeve 27 and thetie rodV are rectangular in cross section ior a substantial distance tothe rear of the flange l5 and that the lit between the sleeve and theiiange i3. and between the body A and the head 26 ol the tie rod 25, issuch aste prevent excessive independent rotation oi" these parts and toinsure proper relative alignment thereof-see Figures 2` and 5. Theopening in the head 26 of the tie rod 25 is, ot course, sutlieientlylarge to permit the tie rod to be readily assembled on the projection1S, the overhanging portion 23 ot the projection cooperating with thetie rod to support the connecter on the bracket l).y with the member Afree to slide along the sleeve 27 against the resistance o't' theYspring E, by which resistance the tie rod is maintained in its seat 22.

What I claim is: y

l. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination with a carcoupler, oi a coupling head and a support for suspending the head fromsaid coupler, said support comprising a bracket and a spring, which saidspring is adapted to be constrained when said coupling head is in thecoupled position with a mating head, and means te permit said couplinghead to be disconnected from a mating head while said ca r couplersremain coupled, said means comprising a device to maintain said springconstrained while effecting such disconnection.

2 In an automatic train pipe connecter,

the combination with a car coupler, ol a coupling head and a support'for suspending the head from said coupler, said support comprising abracket and a spring, which said spring is adapted to be constrainedwhen said coupling head is in the coupled position with a mating head,and' means to permit said couplinghead to be disconnectedl from a matinghead and removed from said bracket while said' couplers remain coupled..said means comprising a device to bfi lille 4. In an automatic `trainpipe connecter, the combination of a coupling head, a support thereforcomprising a bracket and a compression spring, and means to permit saidhead to be disconnected from a mating head and removed from said bracketwhile the cars remain coupled, said means comprising a shiftable pivotdevice anda member to maintain said spring constrained whileeffectingsuch disconnection and removal.

5. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a couplinghead, a sup* port therefor comprising a bracket and a compressionspring, and means to permit said head to be disconnected from a matinghead while the cars remain coupled, said means comprising a memberengaging one end of said spring and extending towards the other end, apivot device shiftable relative to said member, and means co-operatingwith the member to maintain said spring under compression whileeffecting such disconnection. Y

6. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a couplinghead, a support therefor comprising a bracket, a spring, a device foranchoring said spring to said bracket, and means to permit said head tobe removed from said brack-et andreassembled thereon withoutdisassembling said` spring and said device with respect to said head.

7. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a couplinghead, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a projection at itslower end, a device hooked over said projection and having pivotalconnection therewith, a member extending rearlwardly from said headpast. said bracket and having an opening through which said deviceextends, a spring co-operating with this member to project said head,and means to permit said device to be disconnected from said projectionwithoutv disassembling said spring with ,respect to said member.

8. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a couplinghead, a support therefor comprising a bracket having at its lower end abearing, a device seated on said bearing for rocking movement thereon, amember extending rearwardly from said head past .said bracket and havingan opening through which said .device extends, a compression springco-ope'rating with said member to project said head, and means to permitsaid device to be removed from said bearing without relieving saidspring of its retractive action.

9. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a couplinghead, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a projection at itslower end, a device hooked over said projection and having pivotalconnection therewith, a member extending rearrear end of said device, aspring wardly Afrom said head past said bracketand having an openingthrough which said device extends, said member being provided alsoL witha projection adapted to engage said bracket to limit the forwardmovement of said head, an abutment adjustably mounted upon the rear endof said device, a spring between said abutment and one end of saidmember and acting tofproject said member and head, a sleeve extendingfrom one end of said spring to the other and relative to which springsaid device is shiftable, and means co-operating with said sleeve topermit said device to be disconnected from the projection on saidbracket while said spring remains under compression.

10. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a couplinghead, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a projection at itslower end, a device hooked over said projection and having pivotalconnection therewith, a member extending rearwardlyfrom said head pastsaid bracket and having an opening through which said device extends andbeing provided also with a projection adapted to engage said bracket tolimit the forward movement of said head, an abutment adjustably mountedupon the rear end of said device, a compression spring between saidabutment and one end of said member and acting Vto project said memberand head, a sleeve extending from one end of said spring to the otherand relative to which said device is shiftable, means cooperating withsaid sleeve to permit said device to be disconnected from the projectionon said bracket without relieving said spring of its compression, andmeans to prevent excessive rotation of said sleeve during suchdisconnection.`

1l.v In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a couplinghead, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a projection at itslower end, a device hooked over said projection and having pivotalconnection therewith, a member extending rearwardly from said head pastsaid bracket and having an opening through which said device extends andbeing provided also with a projection adapted to engage said bracket tolimit the forward movement of saidhead, an abutment adjustably mounted uon the etween said abutment and one end of said member andacting toproject said member and head, a part extending from one end of saidspring to the other and relative to which said device and said memberare shiftable, and means for locking said member against shifting alongsaid part, for the purpose described.

12. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a couplinghead, a support therefor comprising a bracket having a bearing at itslower end, a device seated in said bearing for pivotal movementtherelll) on, a member' extending rearwardly from said headfpast saidbracket and having an opening through which said device extends andbeing provided also with a projection adapted to engage said bracket tolimit the liorward movement O said head, an abutment mounted upon therear end of said device, a spring between said abutment and one end .otsaid member and acting to project the member, and a sleeve slipped oversaid device and extending through said spring and relative to which saiddevice and said member are shiftable, said sleeve being provided with anopening aligning the slot vin said device, and means extending throughsaid opening and said slot to lock said member against forward movementalong said sleeve. f

. 3. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a couplinghead,a brack et, adevice for supporting said head on said bracket, saiddevice being supported for universal movement on said bracket, a springassociated with said device for yieldingly holding said head in normalcoupling position, an abutment t'or said spring anchored to said device,and meanstor arresting the retractive action ot' said spring to permitthe removal otsaid device from said bracket.

let. In an automatic train pipe connecter,

the combination of a coupling` head, a member extending rearwardlytherefrom, supporting means for said head and member comprising abracket and a spring, the spring being seated on said member, and means'for locking said spring to said member under compression, said meansAcomprising a device anchored at one end to said spring and at the otherend to said member.

l5. In an automatic train pipe connecter, the combination with a carcoupler, of a coupling head and a support for suspending the head fromsaid coupler, said support comprising a bracket and a spring, and

spring undercompression whileeffecting such disconnection.

1G. in an automatic tram pipe connecter for cars, the combination of acoupling head,Y

a support therefor comprising a bracket and Ymeans to permit saidcoup-ling head to be a spring, and means to permit said head to bedisconnected from a mating Ihead while the Iars remain coupled, saidmeans comprising a device 1for maintainingY said spring undercompression while effecting such disconnection. A d Y j l?. In anvautomatic train pipe connecter *for cars, the combination oitl acoupling head, a support therefor comprising` a bracket and a spring,and means to permit saidrhead to be disconnected ,from a mating. headwhile the cars equipped therewith remain coupled, said means comprisingmechanism pivotally supported by said bracket and serving to arrest theretractive action of saidy spring whereby said bracket is freed from thepressure oi' said spring during such disconneci tion.- Y f 18. in anautomatic train pipe connecter, the combination of a coupling` head, asupe port therefor comprising a bracket and a spring, and means topermit said head to be disconnected from a mating head while the carsequipped therewith remain coupled, said means comprising a memberextending from said'head past said bracket into' en; gagement withsaidvspring, and means pivotally support-ed on said bracket 'forarresting the retractive action of said spring to ree the bracket of thepressure ont the spring during such disconnection. Y

n testimony whereof hereunto afiix my signature. n Y

JGSEPH: ROBINSQN.

